QUEENSLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 281, 20 August 1908, Page 7

QUEENSLAND.

LONDON OFFICES-MAIL SERVICE VIA j TORRES STRAITS. j(B? TELEOBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIOIIT.) j London, August 18. | The Premier of Queensland, Mr. Kidston, Iwho is on a visit to England, has secured a .tliirty-Fivo years' loase of tho "Marblo jHalls" (Adelphi Rostaiirant) for Queensland offices, oil the most reasonable terms. He is;still negotiating for a Torres Straits mail servico. Tho first tender was too high.

The terms on which tenders were invited for a Torres Straits steam servico were that it should bo a four-weekly combined cargo and passenger service, of which Brisbane and London will be the termini, and Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, and Roekhumpton tho ports of call. Other Queensland ports aro to be visited if necessary. They are to bo substantial and effloient steamships, of the first class, imd aro to have accommodation for at least 150 passengers. There is to be ventilation suittibia for tropical latitiidos, and refrigerators, machinery, insulated chambers of not less than 80,000 cubic feet capacity, for carriage of frozen products. All tho steamers' are to bo manned by whites. Neither tho llomewtml nor the outward voyage is to exceed 50 days duration.